JP2006260238A - Portable terminal for preventing reading of electronic tag, and electronic tag - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To easily perform temporary stop and restart of the function of one's own electronic tag without stopping the function of an electronic tag of the other person or being stopped by the other person. <P>SOLUTION: This portable terminal 111 comprises an electronic tag communication part communicating with an electronic tag 11, and a LAN communication part communicating with a LAN to which an electronic tag reader 107 for reading ID of the electronic tag and a position information management server 103 are connected. The portable terminal performs reading request of ID that is unique information of the electronic tag, and transmits identification information to be set in the electronic tag managed by the portable terminal 11 to the electronic tag. The ID reading request by the electronic tag communication part and the transmission of identification information and ID are performed in a proximal distance using radio waves of relatively low output, and a temporary stopping command function for temporarily stopping the function of the electronic tag and a restart command for restarting the function are transmitted to the electronic tag 110 using radio waves of relatively high output. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a technique for controlling reading of a radio wave non-contact electronic tag (hereinafter referred to as an electronic tag).

  Recently, ubiquitous information services that provide various information services using electronic tags such as RFID (Radio Frequency IDentification) tags have attracted attention. The electronic tag is attracting attention as an advanced automatic recognition technology that replaces a barcode, and has an internal memory of several tens to several kilobytes, receives a read signal from a reading device, and responds with an ID recorded in the memory. For example, according to Patent Document 1, a department store or restaurant gives an electronic tag to a customer, and the customer is identified by reading the electronic tag ID of the customer with a gate terminal equipped with an electronic tag reading function installed in the store. In addition, department stores and restaurants can provide products and services desired by customers, and can build customer relationships.

  Electronic tags can be classified according to the frequency band of the radio waves used and the presence or absence of a power source. What is expected to be used in the future is a classification tag called a passive tag that uses the UHF band and does not have a private power supply and operates by external power supply.

  By the way, in the ubiquitous information service that uses an electronic tag to obtain a service according to personal preference and attributes, there are many concerns about privacy infringement, which is one of the causes that hinder the spread of electronic tags. Therefore, some techniques for preventing the ID in the electronic tag from being inadvertently read are disclosed. According to Non-Patent Document 1, as a method for preventing reading of an electronic tag, a “normal tag” that requires a ROM (Read Only Memory) as an electronic tag circuit and a special circuit such as an encryption circuit are incorporated in the electronic tag. There are two types of “smart tags” to be intelligent.

Specific methods include “Kill approach” that stops the function of the electronic tag at the time of product purchase, etc., and a method that interferes with reading by emitting jamming radio waves. There is a method of preventing ID reading by performing processing. In a passive tag that does not have a private power source, it is better that the circuit of the electronic tag is as simple as possible so that the function can be realized with low power consumption, and a simple circuit is also preferable from the viewpoint of manufacturing cost. On the other hand, a more sophisticated privacy protection measure is possible if a complicated circuit such as a cryptographic circuit is incorporated.
JP 2003-281291 A Shingo Kinoshita, "Is there any other measure than RFID privacy theory (part 2) tag invalidation", NIKKEI BYTE October 2004 issue, Nikkei Business Publications, Inc.

  As disclosed in Patent Document 1 above, from the viewpoint of performing privacy protection at a low cost in the conventional technique of collecting information about a customer by carrying the electronic tag to the customer and passing through the gate terminal. Although the Kill approach is effective, the ubiquitous information service cannot be provided because the ID cannot be read after the function of the electronic tag is stopped. Therefore, in addition to ROM, a circuit that can be mounted at a lower cost than an encryption circuit such as a rewritable memory or a basic arithmetic circuit is incorporated in an electronic tag, and the function of the electronic tag is temporarily suspended as necessary (smart tag A method that approximates a normal tag method incorporating a method) is conceivable.

  At this time, when a passive tag that is expected to be used in the future is assumed as an electronic tag, a technique for temporarily stopping or restarting the function of the electronic tag from the outside is required. At that time, there is a need for a technique that does not temporarily stop the function of the electronic tag possessed by another person and that does not cause the function of the electronic tag possessed by another person to be suspended. Furthermore, if the procedures for pausing and resuming functions are complicated, the user is more likely to leave the RFID tag function stopped with more emphasis on privacy protection than convenience. There is also a need for technology that can easily suspend and resume functions.

  The object of the present invention is to prevent the erroneous reading by stopping the function of the electronic tag, without increasing the cost of the electronic tag, without stopping the function of another person's electronic tag, or by another person. An object of the present invention is to provide a portable terminal that allows a user to easily suspend and resume the function of the electronic tag without stopping the function of the electronic tag.

In order to solve the above problems, the present invention mainly adopts the following configuration.
Between an electronic tag communication unit that communicates with an electronic tag in a non-contact manner, and a network that connects an electronic tag reading device that reads the ID of the electronic tag and a positional information management server that holds positional information of the electronic tag reading device An information processing terminal comprising a wireless network communication unit for wireless communication with
Means for requesting reading of an ID, which is unique information of the electronic tag, to the electronic tag;
Means for transmitting identification information set for an electronic tag managed by the information processing terminal to the electronic tag via the electronic tag communication unit together with an ID returned from the electronic tag;
Means for transmitting the ID read request and the identification information and ID using a relatively low power radio wave via the electronic tag communication unit;
Means for transmitting a stop command for stopping the function of the electronic tag and a restart command for restarting the function of the electronic tag to the electronic tag using a relatively high-power radio wave via the electronic tag communication unit; Prepare.

In the information processing terminal, means for downloading the position information of the electronic tag reader from the position information management server via a wireless network communication unit;
Means for calculating a readable area that is a range in which a read request signal by the electronic tag reader can reach from the downloaded position information;
Means for setting a permitted area for permitting reading of the electronic tag and a non-permitted area for which permission is not permitted in the readable area.

  In the information processing terminal, the current position of the information processing terminal is measured, and the stop command is automatically transmitted to the electronic tag via the electronic tag communication unit unless the measured current position is within the permission area. Or the information processing terminal measures the current position of the information processing terminal, and when the measured current position enters the permission area, the restart command is sent via the electronic tag communication unit. Means for automatically transmitting to the electronic tag.

  According to the present invention, a function pause command and a function resume command including identification information based on position information from a portable terminal provided with a current position measurement means by causing an electronic tag to have function pause means, function resume means, and identification information. By sending a message, consumers can easily suspend the functions of the electronic tag they own without increasing the cost of the electronic tag, and by including identification information in the command, The function of the tag is not temporarily suspended, and the function of receiving commands in the same manner as the electronic tag is provided on the portable terminal, thereby preventing the function of the electronic tag from being illegally restarted by another person. It becomes possible.

  A mobile terminal according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to FIGS. As a best mode for carrying out the present invention, a CRM (Customer Relationship Management) system using an electronic tag in a large-scale commercial store where a plurality of tenants open a store is exemplified.

  FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an outline of a system configuration when a portable terminal and an electronic tag according to an embodiment of the present invention are applied to a CRM system in a large commercial store. Wireless LAN access points 101 are installed at various locations such as ceilings and wall surfaces in the store. The access point 101 is connected to the in-store LAN 102, and a location information management server 103 and an information service providing server 105 are connected to the LAN. The location information management server 103 has a reading device location information database 104, and the information service providing server 105 has a customer information database 106.

  On the other hand, an electronic tag reading device 107 is installed in various places such as a ceiling, a wall surface, a product shelf and a cash register in the store, and the electronic tag reading device 107 is connected to the LAN 102. The electronic tag reading device 107 has a reachable range of the read radio wave, and can read the contents of the electronic tag within the readable range 108, but cannot read the contents of the electronic tag outside the readable range 108. . Although the actual distance of the readable range 108 varies depending on the electric wavelength and the presence or absence of power supply, the UHF band passive tag, which is expected to be used in commercial applications in the future, will reach 5 m or 10 m depending on the conditions. It is said.

  On the other hand, the shopper 109 owns or wears one or more electronic tags 110. For example, as described in Patent Document 1, when a shopper 109 possesses an electronic tag for customer identification given from a commercial facility, or clothes or books purchased in a store have an electronic tag Is also possible. The IDs of these electronic tags are transmitted to the information service providing server 105 via the electronic tag reading device 107 and stored in the customer information database 106. From the ID of the electronic tag, information such as who the shopper is and information on the product to which the electronic tag is attached can be found (only the customer information DB 106 is shown in FIG. A product information DB (not shown) is connected to the information service providing server 105 and stores various information related to the product).

  This system provides preferential services to shoppers who frequently visit the store, or shoppers who purchase a PC magazine (with an electronic tag attached to the magazine) in the store can eat at the fast food store in the store. For customers who purchase a certain amount of a computer magazine, present a coupon for a fast food store to promote consumption at a fast food store, or a customer who purchases an artist's music CD The promotion of sending the concert information of the artist from the information service providing server 105 becomes possible, which is useful for building customer relationships.

  As described above, the promotion using the purchase history has an advantage for both the store side and the shopper side, but there is anxiety that the personal information may be misused for the shopper. For this reason, it is considered that stores that handle solid personal information can gain the trust of shoppers from stores that handle personal information more and more, and customers may receive promotions using purchase history. Probability is high.

  Even if the store side is managing personal information firmly, a malicious third party installs the electronic tag reader 112 in the store without permission, and a shopper who enters the readable area 113 of the reader 112 By reading the information of the electronic tag 110 and storing the personal information such as the purchase history of the customer in the personal information collection server 114, there is a possibility that the personal information of the shopper is illegally acquired and damaged. For this reason, shoppers want to avoid the risk of unauthorized acquisition of personal information by a malicious third party, and one store also avoids or installs an unauthorized reading device by a malicious third party. If this happens, it will promptly detect and remove it to create an environment where shoppers can shop with peace of mind.

  Therefore, an unreliable reading device installed by a third party outside the store, or a reading device that the customer does not want to read his / her electronic tag even if installed by the store (described later) In the example of FIG. 4, the portable device 111 for preventing the electronic tag from being read by the reading device 403 in the tenant A in the store is not desired. The mobile terminal 111 is always highly portable, and a terminal device in which the technology of the present invention is applied to a mobile phone, a PHS, or a wristwatch can be considered.

  FIG. 2 is a diagram for explaining the operation of the CRM system to which the portable terminal and the electronic tag according to the embodiment of the present invention are applied. When a shopper with a portable terminal 111 (the configuration and functions of the portable terminal will be described later in FIG. 4) enters the store, the portable terminal 111 is installed from the location information management server 103 via the wireless LAN access point 101. Position information (which will be described later, information related to the installation position of the electronic tag reader) is downloaded (201). Thereafter, the program on the portable terminal 111 calculates a readable area (202), displays a read permission area setting screen, and displays a read permission area (described later in the description of FIG. Then, read non-permission is set (203).

  In the store, the mobile terminal 111 always measures the current position (204), and transmits a Sleep command, which is a command for temporarily stopping the function, to the electronic tag 110 unless the current position is within the read permission area ( 205). That is, in the portable terminal, the Sleep command is automatically transmitted to the electronic tag together with the identification information based on the position information automatically acquired and the information on the non-permitted area. Upon receiving the Sleep command, the electronic tag 110 confirms whether or not the same identification information as the identification information of the tag itself is included in the command, and then sets Sleep (206).

  Even if a reading request signal is transmitted from the reading device 107 installed in the store with the electronic tag 110 set to sleep (207), the electronic tag 110 held by the shopper does not make an ID response. Similarly, when a reading request signal is transmitted from the reading device 112 illegally installed by a third party (208), the electronic tag 110 in the Sleep state does not perform an ID response. Here, the ID of the electronic tag is unique information inherently held by the electronic tag, and the identification information is setting information set for the electronic tag by the portable terminal. It will be described later.

  After that, as the shopper moves, the mobile terminal 111 continuously measures the current position (209), and when entering the read permission area, the Activate command, which is a command for resuming the function of the electronic tag 110, is attached with identification information. (210). The electronic tag 110 that has received the Activate command performs the Active setting after confirming the identification information in the command (211). When a reading request signal is transmitted from the reading device 107 installed in the store to the electronic tag 110 in the active setting state (212), the electronic tag 110 returns a normal response (213).

  That is, the reading device 107 can read the ID of the electronic tag 110 only when the electronic tag 110 is set to Active. Thereafter, as the shopper moves, the portable terminal 111 continuously measures the current position (214). When the mobile terminal 111 comes out of the read permission area, the Sleep command is automatically sent again (215), and the electronic tag 110 sleeps. It is set (216).

  Assuming UHF band electronic tags, these Sleep commands and Activate commands can transmit distances of 5m to 10m as described above. However, electronic devices that are also owned by the shopper from the portable terminal 111 owned by the shopper. It suffices to transmit a radio wave that can reach the tag 110 sufficiently, and the output may be adjusted so that the reach is about 3 m (the portable terminal and the electronic tag are both close to the shopper. Therefore, the radio wave intensity is sufficient to enable communication between the two). If the output is lowered, the power consumption is also reduced, so that the power retention time of the mobile terminal is extended and the usability is expected to be improved.

  Various conventional techniques can be applied to the current position measurement method using the portable terminal 111. As an example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2004-214754 “Reference timing difference adjustment in positioning in an asynchronous system between base stations” Since the disclosed technique of “method and apparatus for performing the method” is used in a wireless LAN, it can be applied to the CRM system shown as an embodiment of the present invention.

  FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an operation flow of the mobile terminal 111 according to the embodiment of the present invention. When the mobile terminal 111 enters the store, the mobile terminal 111 downloads reading device position information (see DB 104 in FIG. 1) (301). Therefore, one or more of the wireless LAN access points 101 for accessing the location information management server 103 needs to be installed near the entrance of the store. The portable terminal 111 that has downloaded the reading device position information calculates a readable area based on the reading device position information (302). The readable area is, for example, a distance slightly longer than the reach of the read radio wave (see the reach distance 604 in FIG. 6 described later) centered on the reader installation position (see the readable range 108 in FIG. 1). It can be easily calculated by assuming that it is within the spherical surface.

  Next, in order to set an area where reading of the electronic tag is permitted and an area where permission is not permitted, a reading permission area is set (303). For example, as a result of downloading the reading device position information, it can be seen that six reading devices from A to F are installed, and the reading device B is installed in the sales floor of the tenant that is usually patronized. Trust, the readers C, D, and E are installed in front of the escalator, etc., so they expect to use it for flow measurement, and the readers A and F are tenants who have never shopped before. When it is not trusted because it is installed in the sales area, only the readable area from the reading devices B to E is used as a reading permission area. After setting the read permission area (check mark in FIG. 4 described later), the portable terminal 111 first transmits a Sleep command to the electronic tag as an initial setting (304), and temporarily stops the function of the electronic tag.

  After that, while the shopper holding the portable terminal 111 is walking in the store, the portable terminal 111 always confirms the reception of the Sleep command or the Activate command from another portable terminal (305), and if there is no reception The current position of its own electronic tag is measured (306). It is determined whether or not the current position is within the read permission area set in the process 303 (307). If the current position is within the read permission area, an Activate command is sent to the electronic tag with identification information (308), and it is outside the read permission area. If so, a Sleep command is transmitted with identification information (309).

  On the other hand, in the process 305 for confirming reception of a command from another mobile terminal, when a command is received, it is determined whether or not the same identification information as that in the mobile terminal is included in the command. (310). That is, it is determined whether or not the identification information set for the electronic tag belonging to the mobile terminal from the mobile terminal is stolen. If the same identification information is not included, this can be considered as a command transmitted by another shopper with a portable terminal having the same function to his / her own electronic tag, and the process moves to the current position measurement process 306. However, when the same identification information is included in the received command, a third party who knows the identification information set by the shopper by some means tries to read the ID illegally by resuming the function of the electronic tag. Since the possibility is considered, the Sleep command is continuously transmitted (311), while reading is prevented and an alarm is sounded to warn the shopper (312).

  FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a screen example of the portable terminal 111 for performing the read permission area setting (303). On the read permission area setting screen, a floor plan 401 is displayed, and a navigation 402 for displaying a floor plan of another floor is displayed. In FIG. 4, a check box 403 indicating that the reading device is installed in the tenant A is displayed. Similarly, the tenant B has 404, the tenant C 405, the central square 406, and the 407 and 408 check boxes before the escalator. As shown, the shopper knows that there are a total of six readers on this floor.

  Since the shoppers patronize Tenant C and shop frequently, check the check box 405 to receive information on recommended products that suits him, and set Tenant C as a read-permitted area. ing. Similarly, since the reading device in front of the central plaza and the escalator is considered to be installed for grasping the degree of congestion and confirming the conductors, the check boxes 406, 407, and 408 are also checked.

  On the other hand, since tenant A and tenant B shop very rarely, check boxes 403 and 404 are not checked and excluded from the read permission area in order to avoid unnecessary promotions. By making such a setting, tenant A and tenant B, who are not trusted by shoppers, are prevented from using the personal information of the shoppers to provide services such as recommended information distribution, while maintaining trust. An information distribution service can be received from the tenant C. The floor plan to be displayed on the mobile terminal may be provided in the mobile terminal from the beginning, or may be downloaded together with the installation position information. Also, once set read permission area information is recorded in the portable terminal, and when the user comes to the same store at a later date, the read permission area information that has been recorded can be reproduced to save the setting effort.

  FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating an example of a read permission area setting screen when a mobile phone is used as the mobile terminal 111. Since the screen of a mobile phone is smaller than that of a PDA or the like, there are many cases where the area map as shown in FIG. 4 cannot be displayed. Therefore, it is preferable to perform application setting of the read permission area using a simple display called a table in which the read permission area application state 501 and the reading device installation location 502 are described.

  FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an outline of installation position information data of a reading apparatus installed in a store, which is stored in the reading apparatus position information database 104. The installation position information data includes a reading device ID 601, a reading device installation position 602, an installation position name 603, and a reach distance 604. The installation position 602 indicates an arbitrary position in the three-dimensional space by designating an X coordinate, a Y coordinate, and a Z coordinate as the installation position of the reading device. Each coordinate value has a reference point in the store as an origin, an X axis in the east direction, a Y axis in the north direction, and a Z axis in the height direction, and the distance from the origin is expressed in meters.

  For example, the installation position of the reader installed in the 2F tenant A whose reader ID is 0001 is 10 meters to the east, 28.5 meters to the north, and 5 meters in the height direction from the reference point. It shows that. The reference point is, for example, the bottom surface of the corner outer wall on the southwest side of the building 1F, and the installation position of each wireless LAN access point 101 needs to be managed as XYZ coordinate values from the reference point in the same manner as the installation position of the reading device. The reach distance 604 indicates the reach distance of the read radio wave emitted from the reading device. For example, a reading device with a reading device ID of 0001 reaches a reading radio wave in the range of 5.5 meters, and a reading device with a reading device ID of 0004 reaches a range of 8.0 meters. In the calculation process 302 of the readable area, the readable area is calculated using the reach distance information.

  FIG. 7 is a diagram showing the internal structure of the electronic tag 110. The electronic tag includes an antenna 701, a program processing unit 702, and a data storage unit 703. The program processing unit 702 is implemented with a basic arithmetic circuit, and the data storage unit 703 is implemented with a readable / writable non-volatile memory (such as an EEPROM). In the data storage unit 703, an ID 704, identification information 705, and status information 706 are recorded. The identification information 705 is, for example, a 128-bit random number value, and the state information 706 may be a numerical value of 1 byte, for example, as long as the current operation state can express the sleep state or the active state. The ID 704 of the electronic tag is information for identifying a customer who possesses the electronic tag (may be product information affixed with the electronic tag), but the association between the ID 704 and its detailed information is set in the attached or attached table. You may keep it.

  The program processing unit includes an ID response processing unit 707, an identification information setting processing unit 708, and a command interpretation processing unit 709, which are each implemented by a basic arithmetic circuit. The ID response processing unit 707 performs a process of responding ID (704) if the status information 706 is a value indicating Active when a read signal is received from the outside. When the identification information setting processing unit 708 receives the identification information setting signal from the portable terminal 111, the identification information setting processing unit 708 performs a process of writing in the identification information 705. When receiving a Sleep command or an Activate command from the mobile terminal 111, the command interpretation processing unit 709 compares the identification information in the command with the stored identification information 705, and if it is the same, the status information 706 is set as the command type. Perform the change process accordingly.

  FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating an internal structure of the mobile terminal 111. The mobile terminal 111 mainly includes a wireless LAN communication unit 801, an electronic tag communication unit 802, an antenna 803, a program processing unit 804, a data storage unit 805, a display unit 806, and an input unit 807. The program processing unit 804 receives a command transmitted from another terminal, a command transmission processing unit 808 that performs processing for transmitting a Sleep command or an Activate command, a current position measurement processing unit 809 that performs current position measurement, and determines identification information. A command reception processing unit 810 to perform, an alarm notification processing unit 811 that issues an alarm when a command transmitted from another terminal is a command directed to its own electronic tag, and a readable area from the downloaded installation position information file A readable area calculation processing unit 813 for calculating and a read permission area setting processing unit 814 for displaying a read permission area setting screen and performing area setting are configured.

  The data storage unit 805 has a readable area information file 815 for storing a location set in the readable area, an identification information file 816 in which identification information to be embedded in a command directed to its own electronic tag is written, a proximity distance The management electronic tag information file 817 in which the information of the electronic tag managed as its own electronic tag is written by reading the ID and setting the identification information.

  FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating a flow of processing for setting the identification information 705 from the portable terminal 111 to the electronic tag. The portable terminal 111 transmits an ID reading request with a radio wave intensity at which the electronic tag 110 does not respond unless the radio wave output is weakened and the distance is close (901). The reason why the radio wave output is weakened is to prevent an electronic tag that does not belong to the portable terminal (not linked) from being received. In general, the strength of radio waves received at a point away from a radio wave transmission source is proportional to the output and inversely proportional to the square of the distance from the transmission source. In order for the electronic tag to receive radio waves, it is necessary to receive radio waves of a certain level or higher. Therefore, the reach of radio waves can be shortened by reducing the output.

  Therefore, in order to change the output between when the Sleep command and the Activate command are transmitted and when the ID read request is transmitted, the transformer circuit is connected to the electronic tag communication unit 802 (see reference numeral 802 in FIG. 8) as shown in FIG. 1301 is provided. The portable terminal 111 performs communication by proximity distance by lowering the output using the transformer circuit 1301 in the ID reading request (901) and the transmission of identification information (904), the sleep command transmission (205), and the activate command transmission. In (210), the output is increased and communication is performed at a normal distance.

  The electronic tag 110 that has received the ID read request from the portable terminal 111 checks the state (902), and returns an ID response if it is in the Active state (903). In the sleep state, no ID response is returned. Accordingly, even when the lost electronic tag is picked up by a third party, the leakage of the ID can be prevented when the electronic tag 110 is in the sleep state.

  The portable terminal 111 that has received the ID response from the electronic tag 110 transmits the identification information written in the identification information file 816 together with the read ID at a close distance as in the ID reading request (904). The electronic tag that has received the identification information and the ID checks whether the transmitted ID is the same as its own ID (906). If the ID is the same, the received identification information is set (907). The portable terminal 111 writes and updates the ID and the identification information in the management electronic tag information (information on the electronic tag managed by the portable terminal, the content of which is described later with reference to FIG. 11) (905).

  The identification information is transmitted together with the ID by confirming that the portable terminal that transmitted the identification information is certainly a portable terminal that has read the ID at a close distance, so that other terminals cannot set the identification information without permission. It is for doing so. Here, if there is a third party who has illegally obtained the ID of the electronic tag 110, unique identification information can be set instead of the owner of the electronic tag. As described above, after the initial setting of the association between the portable terminal and the electronic tag shown in FIG. 9 is completed, the processing flow shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 is started.

  FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an outline of each command data transmitted from the portable terminal 111 to the electronic tag. In the Sleep command, “0x01” is provided as an instruction code 1001 indicating that the command is the Sleep command, and identification information 1002 is provided after the instruction code 1001. Similarly, the Activate command has “0x51” as the instruction code 1003 at the head and identification information 1002 behind it. In the identification information setting command in the identification information setting process 904 (see FIG. 9), the instruction code “0x91” is to be set at the beginning, the ID 1005 of the electronic tag 110 is to be set behind the command code “0x91”, and the electronic tag 110 is to be further set behind. There is identification information 1002.

  Here, even if the ID (704) of the electronic tag 110 is used instead of the identification information 1002, that is, the ID is added to the command instead of adding the identification information, the command is applied only to the electronic tag owned by the user. However, when ID is used instead of identification information, the identification information is used because there are many opportunities for third parties to know the ID of the electronic tag that they own. Better. In addition, by setting the same identification information to a plurality of electronic tags that are owned or managed by oneself (with strings), it is possible to simultaneously send a command to a plurality of electronic tags having the same identification information. Improvement can be expected.

  FIG. 11 is a diagram showing an outline of data written in the management electronic tag information file 817 stored in the mobile terminal 111. It is composed of an ID (1101) of the electronic tag and identification information 1102 set to the tag having the ID.

  The embodiment of the present invention described above is summarized in chronological order from the viewpoint of the shopper 109 having the mobile terminal 111 and the electronic tag 110 as follows. First, the shopper 109 brings the portable terminal 111 close to the electronic tag 110 attached to the product at home or the like, and performs identification information setting processing according to the procedure shown in FIG. Of course, the setting process may be performed in the store immediately after purchasing the product instead of at home. As described above, since the identification information setting process is performed via close-range communication, it is possible to avoid erroneously writing the identification information to another person's electronic tag.

  Next, when the shopper 109 enters the store, the installation position information is downloaded from the position information management server 103 to the portable terminal 111 (201). The shopper 109 sets a read permission area on the read permission area setting screen shown in FIG. Thereafter, when the shopper 109 moves in the store, the portable terminal 111 always measures the current position (204), and if not within the read permission area, the portable terminal 111 automatically transmits a Sleep command (205) and reads. If it is within the permitted area, the Activate command is automatically transmitted (210). Since the transmission of the Sleep command and the transmission of the Activate command are normally performed at a distance, the UHF band electronic tag can transmit a command to an electronic tag within a range of several meters.

  In crowded stores, etc., it is fully conceivable that another person's electronic tag exists within the reach of the command, but by using the identification information set first, the electronic tag that received the command It is possible to avoid accidentally making another person's electronic tag Active or Sleeping.

  As mentioned above, although the CRM system in a large store was demonstrated as embodiment of this invention, this invention is not limited to embodiment mentioned above, Many deformation | transformation are possible within the range of the technical idea. For example, the current position measurement process 204 performed on the mobile terminal 111 may be performed on the position information management server 103. That is, as shown in FIG. 12, after setting the read permission area 203 on the portable terminal 111, the current position measurement process is not performed on the portable terminal 111, but the portable terminal 111 moves to the position information management server 103. A current position notification request is transmitted (1201), and the position information management server 103 measures the current position of the mobile terminal 111 (1202), and notifies the mobile terminal 111 of the current position (1203). FIG. 12 is a diagram for explaining the operation of the CRM system according to the present embodiment, particularly the processing procedure for current position measurement.

  By performing the position measurement process on the position information management server 103 instead of on the portable terminal 111, it may be possible to perform the position measurement process at a higher speed than that performed on a portable terminal with few computer resources. Accordingly, the readable area calculation process 202 may also be performed on the position information management server 103. Also, the send of the Activate command (308) and the send of the Sleep command (309) do not always send either command, but only commands when the area is switched in the read-permitted area determination (307). May be sent.

  In the process of writing identification information from the portable terminal 111 to the electronic tag 110 at a close distance (901 and 904), the radio wave output of the portable terminal 111 is not reduced, but a radio wave with a short reach is used. May be. However, for this purpose, the electronic tag 110 requires two types of antennas and a receiving circuit for normal reading and a proximity distance, so that the radio wave output of the portable terminal 111 is reduced and realized by one type of antenna and receiving circuit. It is inevitable that the cost will be higher than the method.

  Further, as a method of determining whether the command transmitted from the mobile terminal is a command addressed to the electronic tag 110, public key encryption technology is used instead of comparing the identification information set in advance with the identification information in the command. A method of identifying them can be considered.

  FIG. 14 is a diagram showing an example in which public key encryption technology is applied instead of identification information from the portable terminal to the electronic tag according to the embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 14, the mobile terminal 111 makes a public key read request instead of a request to read the ID from the electronic tag (1401), and the electronic tag responds with its own public key (1402). When the mobile terminal 111 transmits the Activate command and the Sleep command, the authentication information encrypted with the public key of the electronic tag is given instead of the identification information, and the electronic tag receiving the command receives the authentication information with its own private key. If decrypted and successfully combined, it is determined that the command is for itself.

  According to the configuration example of the present embodiment shown in FIG. 14, since the ID of the electronic tag is not stored in the mobile terminal 111, the ID of the electronic tag does not leak when the mobile terminal is lost, or a third party It is possible to avoid threats such as receiving an Activate command or a Sleep command signal to know the identification information, and continuing to transmit the Activate command with the correct identification information and performing a denial of service attack. However, there is a demerit that the cost of the electronic tag is increased because it is necessary to mount an encryption circuit on the electronic tag 110 as compared with the case where it is determined whether or not the command is addressed to itself by comparing the identification information. You need to be careful.

  As described above, the feature of the present invention is that, when the function of the electronic tag is stopped to prevent erroneous reading, the electronic tag is not costly increased and the function of another person's electronic tag is not stopped. In order to allow the user to easily suspend and resume the function of the electronic tag without causing others to stop the function of the electronic tag, the following configuration, function or It has an effect. That is, a location information management server and a reading device location information database are installed in a store that reads an electronic tag. A shopper carries a portable terminal, downloads reading device position information at the store entrance, and calculates a readable area. The shopper sets whether or not to permit reading of the electronic tag in each readable area for each readable area. The mobile device always checks the current position, automatically sends a function pause command to the RFID tag when it is in an area where reading is not permitted, and automatically sends a function resume command when it is in an authorized area. To do. When the electronic tag receives a function pause command or a function restart command, the electronic tag executes the command if the identification information included in the command matches the identification information held by itself, and does not execute the command if the identification information does not match.

  Further, the electronic tag includes a function pause means and a function restart means in addition to the ID response means possessed by a normal electronic tag, and has identification information separately from the ID. When the RFID tag receives a function pause command and a function resume command from the outside, it executes the function pause means and the function resume means only when the command includes the same identification information as the identification information held by itself. . The function pause command and the function restart command are transmitted from the mobile terminal held by the user. The portable terminal includes an electronic tag ID reading unit and an identification information setting unit in addition to the function suspension command transmission unit and the function restart command transmission unit. The ID reading of the electronic tag using the portable terminal is performed at a close distance by reducing the output of the radio wave so that the ID of the electronic tag of another person is not read by mistake. Also, identification information is set for the electronic tag when the ID is read. When setting the identification information, the identification information is transmitted at a close distance together with the read ID.

  On the other hand, an installer of an electronic tag reader such as a store installs a reader position information management server that manages position information of the installed reader. A shopper who wears or possesses an article to which an electronic tag is attached downloads the position information of the reading device from the reading device position information management server to the portable terminal. In the portable terminal, the readable area of the reading device is calculated from the downloaded position information of the reading device. The portable terminal presents a screen for designating a reading device that permits reading, and allows a shopper to set a reading permission area that permits reading of the electronic tag. The portable terminal includes a current position measuring unit, and when the shopper moves around the store with the portable terminal and enters the read permission area set previously, a function resumption command is transmitted to resume the function of the electronic tag. When the user exits the read permission area again, a function pause command is transmitted to suspend the function of the electronic tag.

  If the identification information is leaked to a third party, the third party can resume the function of the electronic tag by transmitting a function restart command including the identification information. In order to avoid this, the mobile terminal has the function of receiving a function resumption command transmitted by another mobile terminal or reading device in the same way as an electronic tag, and the same identification information as the other mobile terminal or reading device has. When a function restart command including information is transmitted, the function temporary stop command is continuously transmitted, and an alarm is sounded to inform the owner that illegal reading has been attempted.

  In the above description of the embodiment of the present invention, a mobile terminal, a radio wave-type non-contact electronic tag, a LAN, and a pause command are illustrated as specific examples. Of course, the technical idea of the present invention can be applied to the non-contact electronic tag, the network, and the stop command.

It is a figure which shows the outline of a system structure at the time of applying the portable terminal which concerns on embodiment of this invention to the CRM system in a large sized store. It is a figure explaining operation | movement of the CRM system to which the portable terminal and electronic tag which concern on this embodiment are applied. It is a figure which shows the operation | movement flow of the portable terminal which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the example of the read permission area setting screen of the portable terminal which concerns on this embodiment. It is a figure which shows the example of the reading permission area setting screen in the mobile telephone as a portable terminal which concerns on this embodiment. It is a figure which shows the reader position information data preserve | saved at the reader position information database used with the CRM system regarding this embodiment. It is a figure which shows the internal structure of the electronic tag regarding this embodiment. It is a figure which shows the internal structure of the portable terminal which concerns on this embodiment. It is a figure which shows the flow of the process which sets identification information to an electronic tag from the portable terminal which concerns on this embodiment. It is a figure explaining the content of the various commands transmitted to the electronic tag from the portable terminal which concerns on this embodiment. It is a figure explaining the content of the management electronic tag information file in the portable terminal which concerns on this embodiment. It is a figure explaining operation | movement of the CRM system regarding this embodiment, especially the process sequence of present position measurement. It is a figure which shows the structure of the electronic tag communication part in the portable terminal which concerns on this embodiment. It is a figure which shows the example which applies the public key encryption technique replaced with the identification information from the portable terminal which concerns on embodiment of this invention to an electronic tag.

Explanation of symbols

101 Wireless LAN access point 102 In-store LAN
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 103 Position information management server 104 Reading apparatus position information database 105 Information service provision server 106 Customer information database 107 Electronic tag reading apparatus 108 Readable area 109 Shopper 110 Electronic tag which a shopper wears 111 Mobile terminal 112 A third party installs RFID tag reading device 113 Readable area 114 Personal information collection server 401 Floor plan 403, 404, 405, 406, 407, 408 Reading device installation position 409 Update button 410 Cancel button 501 Read permission area application state 502 Reading device installation Location 701 Antenna of electronic tag 702 Program processing unit of electronic tag 703 Data storage unit of electronic tag 704 ID of electronic tag
705 Identification information 706 Status information 707 ID response processing unit 708 Identification information setting processing unit 709 Command interpretation processing unit 801 Wireless LAN communication unit of mobile terminal 802 RFID tag communication unit of mobile terminal 803 Antenna 804 Program processing unit of mobile terminal 805 mobile terminal Data storage unit 806 Display unit of mobile terminal 807 Input unit of mobile terminal 808 Command transmission processing unit 809 Current position measurement processing unit 810 Command reception processing unit 811 Alarm notification processing unit 812 Identification information setting processing unit 813 Readable area calculation processing unit 814 Read permission area setting processing unit 815 Readable area information file 816 Identification information file 817 Management electronic tag information file 1301 Transformer circuit 1302 Transmitter circuit

Claims (14)

Between an electronic tag communication unit that communicates with an electronic tag in a non-contact manner, and a network that connects an electronic tag reading device that reads the ID of the electronic tag and a positional information management server that holds positional information of the electronic tag reading device An information processing terminal comprising a wireless network communication unit for wireless communication with
Means for requesting reading of an ID, which is unique information of the electronic tag, to the electronic tag;
Means for transmitting identification information set for an electronic tag managed by the information processing terminal to the electronic tag via the electronic tag communication unit together with an ID returned from the electronic tag;
Means for transmitting the ID read request and the identification information and ID using a relatively low power radio wave via the electronic tag communication unit;
The information processing terminal sends a stop command for stopping the function of the electronic tag and a restart command for restarting the function of the electronic tag to the electronic tag using a relatively high output radio wave via the electronic tag communication unit. An information processing terminal comprising: means for transmitting. In claim 1,
Means for downloading the position information of the electronic tag reader from the position information management server via a wireless network communication unit;
Means for calculating a readable area that is a range in which a read request signal by the electronic tag reader can reach from the downloaded position information;
An information processing terminal comprising: a permitted area that permits reading of the electronic tag and a non-permitted area that is not permitted in the readable area. In claim 2,
Means for measuring the current position of the information processing terminal and automatically transmitting the stop command to the electronic tag via the electronic tag communication unit unless the measured current position is within the permission area. Characteristic information processing terminal. In claim 2,
Means for measuring the current position of the information processing terminal and automatically transmitting the restart command to the electronic tag via the electronic tag communication unit when the measured current position falls within the permission area. An information processing terminal characterized by that. In claim 2,
An information processing terminal comprising: means for transmitting the stop command to the electronic tag through the electronic tag communication unit as an initial setting after setting the read permission area or the read non-permission area. In claim 2,
Means for detecting whether the stop command or the resume command transmitted from another information processing terminal is received;
When a stop command or a restart command is received as the detection result, when the received command includes identification information that matches the identification information of its information processing terminal, the stop command is sent via the electronic tag communication unit. An information processing terminal comprising: means for transmitting to the electronic tag and generating an alarm. In claim 2,
Means for detecting whether the stop command or the resume command transmitted from another information processing terminal is received;
Means for measuring the current position of the information processing terminal when not receiving a stop command or a restart command in the detection result;
Means for determining whether or not the measured current position is within the permission area;
If the determination result is within the permitted area, the restart command is transmitted to the electronic tag via the electronic tag communication unit, and if not within the permitted area, a stop command is transmitted to the electronic tag via the electronic tag communication unit. Means for transmitting to a tag. An information processing terminal comprising: In claim 3 or 4,
The information processing terminal is characterized in that the current position of the information processing terminal is measured by the information processing terminal itself. In claim 3 or 4,
For the measurement of the current position of the information processing terminal, the information processing terminal transmits a current position notification request to the position information management server, and the information processing terminal receives the current position obtained by the position information management server. An information processing terminal characterized by being performed. In claim 3 or 4,
An information processing terminal comprising: means for transmitting the stop command or the restart command transmitted via the electronic tag communication unit with identification information set in the electronic tag added thereto. In claim 1,
Means for making a public key read request of the electronic tag instead of the ID read request means;
Instead of the identification information, the authentication information encrypted with the public key of the electronic tag obtained by the public key read request is given to the stop command or the resume command, and the electronic tag is sent to the electronic tag via the electronic tag communication unit. An information processing terminal comprising: means for transmitting. Wirelessly communicate with an electronic tag reader that reads the ID of the electronic tag and a network that is connected to a location information management server that holds the positional information of the electronic tag reader. In the information processing terminal,
The identification information set for the electronic tag managed by the information processing terminal uses a relatively low output radio wave together with the ID returned from the electronic tag in response to a request for reading the ID that is unique information of the electronic tag. Sending to the electronic tag
A procedure for transmitting a stop command for stopping the function of the electronic tag and a restart command for restarting the function of the electronic tag to the electronic tag using a relatively high output radio wave;
Based on the position information of the electronic tag reading device downloaded from the position information management server, a readable area that is a range that can be reached by a read request signal by the electronic tag reading device is calculated. A procedure to set allowed areas that allow reading of electronic tags and non-permitted areas that are not allowed;
And a procedure for measuring a current position of the information processing terminal. Wirelessly communicate with an electronic tag reader that reads the ID of the electronic tag and a network that is connected to a location information management server that holds the positional information of the electronic tag reader. In the processing method of the information processing terminal,
Making a request to read an ID that is unique information of the electronic tag;
The identification information set for the electronic tag managed by the information processing terminal uses a relatively low output radio wave together with the ID returned from the electronic tag in response to a request for reading the ID that is unique information of the electronic tag. And transmitting to the electronic tag;
Downloading the position information of the electronic tag reader from the position information management server;
Calculating a readable area that is a range in which a read request signal from the electronic tag reader can reach based on the downloaded position information of the electronic tag reader;
Setting a permitted area that permits reading of the electronic tag and a non-permitted area that is not permitted in the readable area; and
Measuring the current position of the information processing terminal;
And automatically transmitting the stop command to the electronic tag using a relatively high-power radio wave unless the measured current position is within the permission area. Method. A data storage unit for storing ID, which is unique information, identification information set from the outside, and state information indicating an operation state;
An ID response processing unit that performs processing for responding to an ID in response to an external ID reading request, an identification information setting processing unit that performs processing for setting identification information in response to an external identification information setting request, and a command received from the outside A program processing unit comprising a command interpretation processing unit that performs processing for changing the state information by interpreting
The state information is either an active state indicating that the contactless electronic tag is active or a sleep state indicating that the contactless electronic tag is in a stopped state.
The ID response processing unit responds with an ID only when the state information is in an Active state,
The identification information setting processing unit sets the identification information included in the request only when receiving an identification information setting request having the same ID as itself,
The contactless electronic tag, wherein the command interpretation processing unit interprets and executes the command only when the identification information included in the received command matches the identification information held by itself.

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